Woman accused of setting Port Jervis fire back in court

Thursday

Oct 4, 2012 at 2:00 AM

GOSHEN — The woman who’s been charged with setting a fire that destroyed a two-family apartment house has no previous criminal record, her lawyer said Wednesday in Orange County Court as she was arraigned on felony charges.

Heather Yakin

GOSHEN — The woman who’s been charged with setting a fire that destroyed a two-family apartment house has no previous criminal record, her lawyer said Wednesday in Orange County Court as she was arraigned on felony charges.

Heather Martin, 26, has been indicted on charges of second- and third-degree arson and 11 counts of reckless endangerment, felonies; and reckless endangerment and animal cruelty, misdemeanors, in the Aug. 27 fire that destroyed 223 E. Main St. in Port Jervis and killed two cats.

There were seven adults and four children in the building when, officials say, Martin set the fire about 3:30 a.m. in the pantry of her apartment, and then alerted the others to the blaze.

Judge Jeffrey Berry set bail for Martin at $30,000 cash or $100,000 bond.